Chapter Nine
Rain
We slept for a few minutes after the best sex of my life.
What I’d never told anyone and not even Lux was that when we’d had sex only minutes ago, it was my first time—with anyone.
One minute, I was at the diner trying to flirt with the most handsome man I’d ever met, and the next, I wasn’t a virgin anymore.
I reserved my affections for people I was really into. Never kissed on the first date. My steadfast rule. And now I’d thrown that out and had sex with Lux. I didn’t even think twice about it. I fell into his arms and let him love me. As natural as the sun rising or the flowers blooming.
And then I’d bitten him on the shoulder. Why had I done that? Maybe the Mates Motel looked clean and pristine but was really full of mold. Yeah, that would alter my behavior.
Or maybe, maybe, there was such a thing as love at first sight. I chose to believe the latter.
My mind was clear and lucid when we made love.
Lux moved beside me. My head rested on his chest, and his heart thrummed up a bit. “That was incredible,” he said, soothing all my unspoken worries and fears. It was my first time. Who knew if I was the only one who enjoyed it or not? At least, now I knew.
“Until I bit you.” I laughed it off, but, inside, I was terrified he thought I was a weirdo.
“That might’ve been my favorite part.” He chuckled and turned so that we were chest to chest. “I hope you had a good time too.”
I snorted. “Me screaming out your name wasn’t a clue? Your assessment was right. That was incredible.”
He blew out a breath and kissed my forehead. Every second, he got sweeter and sweeter. “I hate to say this but I have to go. I’ve been working long hours with everyone having everything but air delivered to their front doors. I wake up at four.”
I refused to cry. I barely knew this man, but the thought of him leaving even to sleep and eat and shower and work, which he had to do, made me want to tear up. “Are you sure? You can shower here and stay…”
He bit down on his bottom lip and brushed a stray hair behind my ear. “Oh, baby, I wish I could but I really need to get home. But, I don’t want this to be a one-time thing. I want to see you again.”
“You do?”
He laughed, shaking us both. “Of course I do. Unless you don’t?”
I leaned forward and kissed him, baked chicken breath and all. “I absolutely want to see you again, Lux.”
“That’s good, Rain. That’s really good. But I do have to go.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll let you.” I moved back, fighting against the want to cry and even whine? What in the world?
“I promise to see you as soon as we can. I know.” Lux touched my face before he got up. “I know it’s hard.”
“Letting you go is not all that’s hard,” I said, jutting my chin in the direction of his very hard cock.
“That’s true, but life calls. Speaking of, here…” He tossed his phone onto the bed as he put on his clothes and sat down, putting on his socks. “Can you put your information in my phone? I don’t want to come hunt you down at the diner or here again.”
I nodded and sat up, letting the covers pool around my waist. Seeing him go felt like my heart was tearing right out of my chest. Everything about Lux and this encounter was overpowering.
Almost fantasy-like. He went to the bathroom while I plugged my info in his phone and then washed his hands and stared at me in the reflection of the mirror while he did.
My chest ached. “I’m okay. It’s okay.” I didn’t know who I was convincing, me or him. Maybe neither of us.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?”
I maintained my calm, but barely. “Text me when you get home safe, okay?”
He lingered by the door. “I will. Thank you for worrying about me, Rain. I’ll see you soon. I promise.”
That promise of his felt sincere. As soon as the door shut, I flopped onto my back and groaned, covering my eyes with my arm.
This bed felt so big and cold now with him gone, even though I’d never slept with a lover before.
Never had a lover before. I replayed the events of the night in my head.
The way Lux talked to me. The way he kept eye contact, and asked that I looked him in the eyes while we orgasmed together.
The way his mouth felt wrapped around my cock. If he hadn’t left, I would’ve either been on top of him or had him in my mouth right this very minute.
And at the end? When he leaned down while still pumping his cum inside me? The rush of explosive feelings for him. Biting him on the shoulder seemed like the only thing I could do. Like it was out of my control. I was somehow compelled to sink my teeth into his rounded shoulder.
What a thing to do.
Still, that didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he looked pleased with me as I pulled back, mortified.
Lost in my thoughts of him, I dozed off after a quick shower. I didn’t even bother putting my clothes back on, having a wild inkling that Lux might come back and tell life and reality to go to hell.
That was what I wanted him to do anyway.
Soon after, I became aware that I was dreaming.
It had to be a dream. I was in a forest with so many shades of green and browns.
The sounds of birds and breaking branches and the wind were so crisp and profound in my ears.
I tasted blood in my mouth but I wasn’t put off by it.
It seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
From behind me, I heard a noise and turned to see what it was.
It was a fox. It was lean yet strong. A reddish coat on top and white on the chest and belly.
It’s tail wide and fluffy, brown for the most part but a puff of white at the very end.
A fox. I’d never seen a fox before in real life, but then again, this was a dream.
The weirdest part? I wasn’t scared. Not one bit.
I crouched down without thinking twice and reached out my hand for the animal.
His face was so beautiful, and I swore there was nothing but sweetness in those piercing brown eyes.
Step by step, he got closer until I felt his soft fur underneath my fingers, skimming across my palm.
He lay down in front of me, bearing his belly and I let out a laugh.
I got the feeling he was being playful. I sat down and ran my fingertips across his belly as his eyes drifted closed.
I looked around, thinking there must be someone else in this forest, this dreamy place, but there was no one else.
Just me and the fox. When I stopped rubbing his belly, he pawed at me, asking for more without words.
But as fast as it started, the dream began to fade. The colors of the forest and the leaves on the ground lost their luster. The fox got up and made a couple of rounds before deciding my lap was the best place for a nap.
And right before I woke up, I heard the word reverberate in my mind. Mate.